A Peculiar Party ~ Part Four March 25, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Fiction, Magick & Mystery, Word Play.comments closed
“What happened then?”
“We walked back through the alley as fast as we could. We wanted to get the hell out of there.”
“Understandable.”
“When we reached the bench and Betty saw the pile of sand in front of it, she gasped and grabbed her neck.”
“Why?”
“She realized that the necklace with the vial of sand was missing.”
“Had it come off when she handed you the glasses?”
“It must have. She’s sure she was still wearing it when she emptied her shoes.”
“Did you go back for it?”
Freddie gave me a withering look.
“No. I guess not. So, what happened?”
“We stood by the bench for a minute, debating what to do next.”
“Because you couldn’t walk out onto Fifth Avenue looking like a bunch of mutants.”
“Exactly. But the light started shifting again.”
“Back to normal?”
“Not normal. But color returned and the metallic glow dissipated.”
“Then what?”
“I took Betty home so she could lie down.”
I sat back. Leaning against Flipper’s tail. I let Freddie’s recollections settle as I considered what we knew and what we still needed to know.
I pondered the next best step.
Thankful that the earlier mental fog seemed to have lifted.
After a minute or two, I spoke. “Freddie, why don’t you and I go back there right now and read the rest of the plaque. It might help to explain what’s been happening around here.”
“Can’t do it.”
“Look. I understand you’re shaken up. But if we wish to get to the bottom of this, the plaque is the best place to start.”
Freddie nodded. “I agree.”
“So . . . let’s go.”
“We can’t. It’s gone.”
“What’s gone?”
“All of it. The plaque. The totem pole . . . ”
“. . . and the alley.”
“Exactly. Teddy and I went back that night, and again the next day, and three times since.”
That sounded more like the Freddie I knew.
“Teddy and I combed Fifth Avenue from West to East and East to West. It’s gone. If it weren’t for all the odd goings on around here, I’d be convinced that Betty and I imagined the whole thing.”
To be continued . . .
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Spirit Lights The Way 